Time-stamp.



A. M. BARRETT & W. F. STONE.

TIME STAMP. 7 APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22. NH?- 1,271,004. Patented m2,1918.

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TIME STAMP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22.19I7.

], ,27 1,004;. Patented July 2, 1918.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR M. BARRETT AND WALTER F. STONE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; SAID STONEASSIGNOR TO SAID BARRETT.

TIME-STAMP.

Application filed June 22, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ARTHUR M. BAR- RETT and WVALTER F. STONE, citizensof the United States of America, and residents of Chicago, county ofCook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Time-Stamps, of which the following is a specification.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improvedconstruction for time stamps, including an improved'means forsafeguarding the clockwork from injury, an improved form of ribboncontrol, and improved means of regulating the dating mechanism of saidstamp.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a cross section in elevationof the time stamp taken on the line A-A of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the time stamp with the guard shown in outlineand part of the platen broken away.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the spool showing means for fastening the ribbonin the spool.

Fig. A is a side view of the ribbon fastener.

This invention relates particularly to time stamps designed toaccurately record time and date permanently and in such a manner thatintervals of time so recorded may be readily computed. It is usedlargely in factories where piece work is done and in which it isparticularly desired to secure an accurate and true register of theactual amount of time spent on the particular job in hand. To secure theaccuraterecording and faithful reproduction of the time actually spent,the time stamp should be incapable of manipulation in any other than theprescribed way and yet be capable of ready and easy adjustment tocoordinate the registration therein with the progress of time and date.

In the form shown, the time and date indicating mechanism is internallymounted in a casing 1 on the lid 2 which is hinged to the casing at 3 sothat the lid carrying the mechanism may be swung open to expose themechanismfor adjustment or other purposes. The casing 1s provided w th alock l which makes it possible to positively prohibit any attempt tointerfere with the working 'mechanism other than that ex- '55 presslyprovided for and hereinafter men- Speeification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1918.

Serial No. 176,385.

tioned. The timing mechanism is driven by a clockwork 5 which, by meansof a wide pinion 6 meshing with gear 7, actuates a rotary type memberpreferably in the form of a pointer 8.

Improved means have been adapted to prevent a shock, resulting fromquick operation of the time stamp, from being communicated to the clockmechanism by widening the pinion 6 to allow the gear 7 to slidelongitudinally with respect to the pinion.

The lid of the casing is adapted to hold a card of predetermined sizeand shape securely in a definite position when it is desired to registerthereon the time of beginning or ending a particular job. To prevent thecard from being inserted out of alinement with the stamping mechanismguides of permanent and adjustable nature are mormted on the lid.comparatively high walls 9 and 10 are permanently spaced as determinedby the width of the card to be admitted and have abutments l1 and 12against which one end of the card is pushed. A wall 13 provided with aslotted flange is slidably adjustable with respect to screw 14.

When the card is held in snug contact by the guards the operatordepresses the weighted platen 15 so as to cause pressure to be exertedby the pointer 8 against the face of the card. The platen is normallyheld slightly raised above the pointer by a spring 16 as shown in Fig.1.

A guard 17 is mounted on the lid and hangs over the platen to protect itfrom accidental blows which may cause an unintentional registration andfurther insures the mechanism from a violent blow or tap when the platenis depressed by the operator. Inasmuch as the time stamp is devised forquick and instant registration of the time, the guard is particularlynecessary to prevent a Violent striking of the platen by a careless orhurried operator. The overhanging end of the guard is handleshaped asshown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, so as to also serve as a handle bywhich to lift and carry the time stamp.

Registration of the particular period indicated by the pointer 8 isreproduced on the card or work sheet by an inked ribbon 18 which passesbetween the pointer and the card. The ribbon is pulled over the pointerby a ribbon feed preferably housed within the hollow base of the guard,and comprises a spool 19 having at one of its ends a ratchet wheel'20.

A pawl 21 is mounted on ailear of the platen and has contact with theteeth of the ratchet so that when the platen is depressed the pawlwillrotate the spool and thus automatically pull the ribbon. The pawl iscounterpoised to hold it normally in contact with the ratchet andprevent the spool from unwinding and allowing the ribbon to becomeloose. The ribbon is mounted at its other end on a free turning spool 22which is prevented from overrunning by means of a tension spring 22.1.When it is desired to rewind the ribbon the lid is unlocked and pulledback and the interior mechanism is exposed permitting ready accesstotheknurled handle 23 ofthe spool22.

Tension spring 22.1 is secured to'the interiorframe by a screw 22.2and'supports'at its other end a button 22.3. The button 22.3 fits intoand holds compactly a concavity 22.4 located in the handle 23 of thespool to prevent the spool from unwinding too freely and also to' lockit into place. l/Vhen it is desired to rewind, the spring is thrown toone side and the spool is rotated by means of its knurled knob.

The pawl 21 is also so counterpoised on the platen that when the lid isopen the pawl swings free from the teeth of the ratchet to winding ofthe ribbon Trouble has often been experienced in other devices providingfor an automatic pull on the ribbon onfaccount of the tearlng of theribbon from the spool when the end of the ribbon is reached. To obviatethis difficulty the ribbon is frictionally attached by clips 24 whichpartially surround the core of the spool as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.Figs. 3 and 4 show an oilclot -h 25 attached to the end of the ribbon,this being an easier substance to handle than the inkedribbon when theribbon is being attached to .the spool. I p I The dating mechanismcomprises four dating wheels26, consisting of a year wheel, a monthwheel andtwo day wheels. The day wheels may be turned independentlypermit the free turning of spool 19 for 're of each other to change thedate to be recorded without unlocking the casing. Pivotedconcentricallywith the axis of thedats ing'wheels are a pairofa'rms 27 which carrypawls 28, adaptedto engage the teeth of the respective dating wheels, sothat when an arm 27 is pushed'upward the respective dating wheelisadvanced one space. Holes-29 in "the casing permit the insertion ofpencil or the like to push the arin 27 upward tor otate'the datingwheel. Each hole29 ;is surrounded by high walls 30 in order to directthe pencil to the respective arm o'f the dating mechanism and to preventinterference or tampering with the time stamp or othermechanism in thecasing.

Intheoperation of thedevice, a-cardhaving previously printed thereon thespaced numerals l to 12 and intermediate time markings, in a circleaccording to a clock dial, is inserted between the platen andthe typecarrying elements. The platen isthen operated to effect an impressionfrom the date type carriers and the arrow 8, in whatever angular settingthe arrow-may be. cordingly, theexact time of making the record isindicated on the printed card by the impression made by the arrow 8. Theink ribbon is fed during the downstroke of the platen by the pawl '21,'pivoted'to'an ear'of the platen, engagingratchet wheel 20 on one of theink ribbon-supporting shafts.

Due to the location of the guard 17 and the limited space between theguard andthe platen, the platen is most easily operated by the tips ofthe 'fingers of the operator. With this arrangement, it is impossible togive the platen a hard blow or hit it with the side of the fist.

In devicesof thisgeneral'class, the accuracy of the time mechanism isaffected due to vibrations received from too hard operations of theplaten. Itmay therefore be seen that the guard 17 serves a usefulpurpose and is essential to insure satisfactory service and long life ofthe apparatus.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been hereinshown and described, it. will be understood that numerous details of theconstruction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from thespirit of this invention as defined bythe following claims.

We claim: a a

1. A time stamp comprising a clock, a rotatable printing member actuatedthereby, a platen to coact with saidmember, an inked ribbon to passtherebetween, and means to automatically advance said ribbon over saidmember, including a spool at one end of the ribbon provided with aratchet, a pawl on said platen'to engage said ratchet and-partly rotatesaid "spool through the operation of the platen, a secondspool at theotherend of said ribbon, a casing normally 'inclosing said spools, a lidhin'gedto said casing, and means 'to "automatically disengage said pawlthrough the opening of said lid'to permitthe ribbon to berewound on saidsecond-spool.

2. A time stamp comprising a'jclock, a casing therefor having a hingedlid, arotatable printing member mounted on said lid,' a platen to tapsaid member, "externally mounted on the lid of said casing, an inkedribbon to pass between said platen and member, a guard over said platen,a spool mounted in said guard to [wind said-ribbon, having a ratchet, apawl mounted easaid platen to turn saidratc'het to wind the rib;

bon through the movement of said platen, a free turning spool attachedto the other end of said ribbon to rewind the ribbon, said pawl beingcounterpoised to disengage said ratchet to permit the rewinding of theribbon when the lid is raised.

3. A time stamp comprising a clock, a casing therefor having a hingedlid, a rotatable printing member mounted on said lid, a platen to tapsaid member, externally mounted on the lid of said casing, an inkedribbon to pass between said platen and member, a guard over said platen,a spool mount 'ed in said guard to wind said ribbon, having a ratchet, apawl mounted on said platen to turn said ratchet to wind the ribbonthrough the movement of said platen, a free turning spool attached tothe other end of said ribbon to rewind the ribbon, a tensioning deviceto prevent said spool from turning too freely and to lock the spool inits casing, said pawl being counterposed to disengage said ratchet topermit the rewinding of the ribbon when the lid is raised.

4. A time stamp comprising a clock, a casing therefor having a hingedlid, a rotatable printing member mounted on said lid, a platen to tapsaid member, externally mounted on the lid of said casing, an inkedribbon to pass between said platen and member, a guard over said platen,a spool mount ed in said guard to wind said ribbon, having a ratchet, apawl mounted on said platen to turn said ratchet to wind the ribbonthrough the movement of said platen, a free turning spool attached tothe other end of said ribbon to rewind the ribbon, a leaf spring mountedon the interior frame adapted to prevent said spool from turning toofreely and to lock the spool in its casing, said spool and spring havinginterfitting socket and projection contact, said pawl beingcounterpoised to disengage said ratchet to permit the rewinding of theribbon when the lid is raised.

5. A time stamp comprising a clock, a rotatable pointer actuated by saidclock to indicate periods of time, an inked ribbon to pass over saidpointer, all arranged to reg ister impressions from said pointer upon atime card, a platen to tap the card, and a guard over said platen toprevent a violent blow on said platen.

6. A time stamp comprising a clock, a rotatable pointer actuated by saidclock to indicate periods of time, an inked ribbon to pass over saidpointer, all arranged to register impressions from said pointer upon atime card, a platen to tap the card, and a handle-shaped guard over saidplaten to serve as a handle for carrying the time stamp and to prevent aviolent blow on said platen.

7. A time stamp comprising a clock, a rotatable pointer adapted to bemoved by said clock and a dating device, all mounted in a casing adaptedto be locked, an inked ribbon to pass over said pointer, mechanism forsetting said dating device, including an actuating member, said casinghaving a hole through which a pencil or other similar object may bepassed to cooperate with said member to change the date to be registeredwithout unlocking the casing.

8. A time stamp comprising a clock, a rotatable pointer adapted to bemoved by said clock and a dating device, all mounted in a casing adaptedto be locked, an inked ribbon to pass over said pointer, mechanism forsetting said dating device, including an oscillating, actuating member,said casing having a hole opposite said actuating member through which apencil or other similar ob ject may be passed to cooperate with saidmember to change the date to be registered without unlocking the casing.

9. A time stamp comprising a clock, a rotatable pointer adapted to bemoved by said clock and a dating device, all mounted in a casing adaptedto be locked, an inked ribbon to pass over said pointer, mechanism forsetting said dating device including an oscillating actuating member,said casing having a hole opposite said actuating member through which apencil or other similar object may be passed to cooperate with saidmember to change the date to be registered without unlocking the casing,elongated walls surrounding said hole and serving as guides to directthe pencil to the dating mechanism and to prevent it from interferingwith the timing mechanism.

10. A device of the class described, comprising a clock, a type elementdriven by said clock, a manually operable platen for effectingimpressions from said type element, and a guard in position to preventsaid platen from being violently operated.

Signed at Chicago this 20th day of June, 1917.

ARTHUR M. BARRETT. WALTER F. STONE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

